The Climate Reality Project, a nonprofit organization founded by former Vice President Al Gore, is offering a full-time position on its Science and Solutions Team. The Climate Policy Associate will play an integral role in a fast-paced organization that uses cutting-edge advertising and communications strategies to demonstrate the urgency and solvability of the climate crisis.

The Climate Reality Project has offices in Washington, D.C. and Boulder, Colorado. This position is located in the D.C. office.

General Overview: The Climate Policy Associate is responsible for tracking, analyzing and evaluating international and domestic (U.S.) climate policy and politics for the Science and Solutions Team, as well as key national climate and clean energy policy developments in other countries that would have bearing on multilateral climate policy. The Climate Policy Associate is the primary internal expert advising any staff designing or executing projects, campaigns, or other activities related to international climate policy and politics, or U.S. climate policy. At the international level this includes UN climate negotiations, multilateral institutions’ approaches to climate change, national and sub-national climate and clean energy policies in major emitting countries, bilateral or plurilateral strategies and agreements to address climate change, and other key developments at the global level that are relevant to solving the climate crisis. On the domestic side this includes legislative measures, executive actions, and regulatory proposals or rulemaking, at the federal or state level.

Additionally, this position will support the Science and Solutions team more broadly by assisting with research on climate change science, energy technologies, public policy, and other relevant disciplines. Among other things, the candidate will help review relevant reports and studies, attend conferences and hearings, assist in writing briefing documents, review social media and other communications materials, and perform miscellaneous research and administrative tasks as needed.

Duties and Responsibilities

Specific duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Advise the Science and Solutions team as well as others across the organization on matters relating to international climate policy and politics, including UN climate change negotiations, multilateral institutions’ approaches to climate change, national and sub-national climate and clean energy policies in major emitting countries, bilateral or plurilateral strategies and agreements to address climate change, and other key developments at the global level that are relevant to solving the climate crisis.

Advise the Science and Solutions team and the wider organization on matters relating to U.S. domestic climate policy. This involves monitoring, tracking, and analyzing legislative measures, executive actions, and regulatory proposals or rulemaking related to climate change and clean energy, both at the Federal and state level.

Act as one of the primary liaisons to any external entities helping The Climate Reality Project with campaigns or projects regarding international and domestic climate policy or politics.

Study and make recommendations about organizational positions on emerging or rapidly evolving areas of international and domestic climate policy or politics, including UNFCCC climate negotiations and key U.S. political developments.

Identify trends, campaigns, events or other developments in such fields that the organization should be aware of, and indicate why these are relevant.

Organize and conduct internal staff ‘lunch and learns’ on international and domestic climate policy and politics.

Draft and circulate a regular newsletter (time permitting) with international climate and energy news.

Write talking points for senior leadership for presentations or public events.

Respond to Climate Reality Leaders’ questions about international climate policy and politics.

Vet any international or domestic climate policy related proposals and organizations.

Participate in other regular activities of the Science and Solutions team, including: Research on climate science, energy technologies, climate and energy policy, by reviewing and summarizing latest studies, reports and peer-reviewed publications; attend events (such as conferences, seminars, webinars, hearings, briefings, symposia etc.) related to climate science, energy technologies, domestic and international climate and energy policy etc.; review and approve social media content and emails or newsletters for publication; prepare briefing materials for ’24 Hours of Reality,’ or other key campaigns; generate blog content; supervise interns working with the Science and Solutions team, if required.

Other duties as assigned.

Core Skills and Qualifications

Master’s degree plus 2-3 years work experience in climate policy, with a particular emphasis on international climate policy. Preferred exposure to international negotiations either within the UNFCCC process or the Clean Energy Ministerial or other similar international, multilateral processes.

An interest in and knowledge of U.S. domestic politics, governance, and regulatory affairs in relation to climate change and clean energy.

Candidates with a Bachelor’s degree in the above fields plus 4-5 years relevant work experience will also be considered.

Coursework/experience in international relations and climate change policy strongly preferred.